Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Maharagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Maharagama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Ratnapura vs $132 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $779 per month in Ratnapura vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,073 per month in Ratnapura vs $360 in Maharagama, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 268% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ratnapura and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 65% lower, Maharagama 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 LKR 640

$5.20 LKR 1,719

-62.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.13 LKR 3,019

$20.09 LKR 6,642

-54.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 LKR 2,040

$7.02 LKR 2,321

-12.11%

Cappuccino

$2.12 LKR 700

$2.13 LKR 705

-0.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 LKR 244

$0.61 LKR 201

21.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 LKR 157

$0.29 LKR 94.3

62.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 LKR 668

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 LKR 896

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 600

$0.90 LKR 297

101.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 LKR 256

$0.25 LKR 82.7

208.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.51 LKR 168

19.61%

Eggs

$1.08 LKR 357

$1.44 LKR 476

-25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.01 LKR 4,963

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 LKR 2,086

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.81 LKR 5,229

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 LKR 1,454

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 LKR 1,407

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 332

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 352

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 LKR 477

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 158

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 158

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.12 LKR 4,339

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 LKR 4,219

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 676

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 968

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.45 LKR 148

-15.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 LKR 156

$0.48 LKR 159

-2.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 LKR 321

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.9K LKR 6.6M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.13 LKR 704

$4.69 LKR 1,549

-54.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.40 LKR 2,448

$13.87 LKR 4,587

-46.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.04 LKR 2,988

Cinema Ticket

$2.39 LKR 791

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.50 LKR 3,472

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.79 LKR 2,577

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 LKR 28.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.60 LKR 8,463

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 LKR 25.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.8 LKR 17.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 LKR 66.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 LKR 28.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.4K

$248 LKR 81.9K

-32.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: September 12, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 48% higher in Maharagama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $20.00 in Maharagama. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Ratnapura vs $19.00 in Maharagama – so Maharagama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ratnapura vs Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ratnapura is pricier by about 268%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $726 per month in Ratnapura and $198 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 1252% more in Ratnapura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura and $20.00 in Maharagama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $484 in Ratnapura and $132 in Maharagama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.